| Place | Middle East: Ottoman Empire, Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM00342 |
| Collection type | Technology |
| Object type | Optical equipment |
| Physical description | Glass, Wood |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Ottoman Empire: Turkey, Dardanelles, Gallipoli |
| Date made | 1915 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Improvised periscope : Gallipoli
Description
Roughly squared length of timber with two shards of mirrored glass embedded at an angle. One piece is at the top of the wood, with the angled mirror facing downwards. The second piece is made from thicker glass and is close to the bottom of the wood, with the angled mirror facing upwards. Both mirrors have lost some of their silvered backing. The bottom 11 cm of wood has been rounded to remove splinters and make it easier to hold.
History / Summary
This improvised periscope was made on Gallipoli to allow soldiers to look over trench parapets without being shot. Once the Gallipoli campaign bogged down into trench warfare periscopes were required, but early in the campaign few were available.
To make up the short fall shaving mirrors and the mirrors from the transport ships were removed, broken into shards and attached to lengths of wood. This example was found in 1919 either by members of the Australian War Records Section or the Australian Historical Mission.